Apparatus to pattern and to dye single colored textiles, especially carpets, with different colors or tones

ABSTRACT

1. Apparatus for dyeing a continuously traveling textile breadth, comprising means for guiding the breadth through a nonvertical path, means spaced above said path for dispensing a row of interspaced low-speed dye liquid jets towards this path, said row extending transversely with respect to said path, and mechanical means for effecting dispersions of said jets into individual dye liquid droplets falling on said path.

United States Patent Takritiet al.

APPARATUS TO PA'I'IERN AND TO DYE SINGLE COLORED TEXTILES, ESPECIALLYCARPETS, WITH DIFFERENT COLORS OR TONES Inventors: Nassir Takriti; KurtQuoos; Ferdinand Leifeld, all of Krefeld; Valentin Appenzeller,Kempen/Niederrhein,

all of Germany Assignee: Textilausruestungs-Gesellschaft Schroers &C0.,Krefeld, Germany Filed: June 9, 1969 Appl. No.: 831,297

Foreign Application Priority Data June 15, [968 Germany ..P 17 60 657.4Oct. I0, 1968 Germany ..P 18 02 318.2

US. Cl. ..68/5 D, 68/205 R Int. Cl. ..D06c 1/06, B050 5/00 Field ofSearch ..68/200, 205 R, 5 D, 5 E

[451 Aug. 15, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,253,4325/1966 Moore et a] ..68/205 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 549,7188/l932 Germany ..68/205 R Primary Examiner-William i. PriceAttorney-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin EXEMPLARY CLAIM 1.Apparatus for dyeing a continuously traveling textile breadth,comprising means for guiding the breadth through a non-vertical path,means spaced above said path for dispensing a row of interspacedlow-speed dye liquid jets towards this path, said row extendingtransversely with respect to said path, and mechanical means foreffecting dispersions of said jets into individual dye liquid dropletsfalling on said path.

29 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 KURT QUOOS FERD/NHND [.E/FELD V41. ENT/N HPPENZELLER Patented Aug. 15, 19724 Sheets-Sheet 4 MN! #701 5 NASSIP TAKR/ T."

1. E/FELD KURT QUOOS FERD/NA/VD VfiLENT/N APPENZELLER 110 By APPARATUSTO PATTERN AND TO DYE SINGLE COLORED TEXTILES, ESPECIALLY CARPETS, WITHDIFFERENT COLORS OR TONES This invention relates to a method for dyeingtextiles, especially carpets, having a single basic color with differentcolors or tones without clinging to an apparent or perceptible orvisible uniformity or pattern, and more particularly to repeatedpatterns, by means of pile thread or top side color application to thecontinuously transported textile or especially carpet breadths.

Recently it has become more and more desirable to finish a single colorcarpet in such a way that although the single color remains thepredominant base tone, a liveliness or an optically improved effect isobtained by dissolving the single color to achieve differing tones up toa degree of color differences or by interspersing it in this manner.Despite of the optically unified appearance of the total surface thecolor differences shall not appear in regularly recurring designs orpatterns and not regularly as portions of a geometrically definedoutline or the like or as repeated portions, but they shall rather havea certain unified effect of a randomness which is pleasant to the eye.

Such a type of carpet dyeing process has been commonly designated asspace dyeing. I

Recently this type of patterning has further achieved significance inother fabrics, as for example decorative fabric materials so that thisinvention which is preferably intended for carpets, is not limited tothe same.

Various proposals have already been made to achieve the above mentioneddyeing and patterning process.

One of these proposals has been to apply different dyes and colors tothreadspool sections and to tuft the differently dyed threads.Alternatively, it has been proposed to print the threads with differentcolors prior to tufting. Another proposal includes making a stocking ofundyed threads, priming the stocking, printing it with color, steamingit, ravelling it again and then tufting the thus colored thread. As mayreadily be seen, these processes are inherently expensive. For example,such a great quantity of prepared threads must be maintained in storageas will probably be required by the most different carpet colors withoutbeing able to immediately meet any demand which is beyond the scope ofthese probable requirements.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a methodfor dyeing of the above mentioned type which is based upon the piecematerial, that is to say, upon the undyed carpet, and which, inspite ofits simple and economic realization, results in perfect dyeing orpatterning of a desired liveliness.

According to the present invention this problem has been solved in thatfollowing to a base tone application or preceding a base toneapplication or onto the raw undyed fabric the color or colors areapplied in a spotted fashion by means of individual dye droplets in anequal volume over the surface of the carpet breadth which iscontinuously transported. The application of the dye droplets iseffected according to the random colors or random tones to be desiredwithout any repeated pattern or design.

By usage of a repeatable control of droplet application the totalimpression of a dyed carpet breadth may be reproduced which is animportant feature if carpet breadths are to be installed side by side inlarge rooms.

By usage ofa constant quantity of dye liquid per unit area disruptionsdue to limited dye accumulation of the total area to be dyed areavoided. Further, by the application of dye droplets it is guaranteedthat the color, if possible, penetrates onto the rear or back-side ofthe carpet and thereby allows the carpet to retain its uniformappearance even after it has been worn. If the desired color sorequires, the coloring created by the single droplets may be blended. Itis preferred that the droplets are not smaller than a minimum size. As aminimum size under which the droplets should not remain, a dropletdiameter of2 mm may be regarded as appropriate. For this kind of carpetmanufacturing threads of inferior quality may also be used withoutimpairing the result of the dyeing process.

The spraying of color for single color dyeing of carpets is alreadyknown. Substantially, spraying includes that the dye liquid, sometimestogether with a gas mixture, is fed under pressure through a nozzle andthat the jet leaving the nozzle is widened more or less conicallytowards the surface to be sprayed causing the dispersion of minutedroplets. Such a process is limited in that it may only be used in asingle color dyeing operation.

It has already been attempted to pattern carpets by means of spraynozzles in which case the spray nozzles located over the entire widthand in several rows one after the other are to be switched on and offindividually. Switching of these individual nozzles is to be effectedvia a contact patterned and endless pattern foil. Apart from the factthat a control of this kind always results in a repeated design althoughof a certain length, these attempts have not been favorably accepted bythe manufacturers because individual control of these spray nozzles isfar too expensive.

An improvement of the dyeing process according to the present inventionmay be achieved in that application of the dye droplets onto the breadthis effected in a steam atmosphere.

Accordingly it will be possible to freely choose the physical conditionsfor the penetration of the dyeing liquid into the fiber layer formingthe carpet and for attaching onto the individual fibers within a certainrange and to adjust them to varying requirements which will have to beconsidered because of the difference in fiber materials, theirconditions of treatment, especially swelling and expansion, thestructure of the carpet fleece and the dyeing substances to be applied.In a preferred embodiment of the present invention application of thedye droplets onto the breadth is effected in a substantially closedsteamer.

With respect to attachment of the dye to the fiber as well as topenetration, that is to say, penetration of the dye to the bottom of thecarpet, it is favorable if the dyeing liquid to be applied in dropletshas an elevated temperature especially near its boiling point or that ofits component having the lowest boiling point.

It may also be possible to heat the breadth to be dyed prior toapplication of the dye droplets.

The possibilities provided by the present invention with respect toinfluencing the dyeing conditions are particularly favorable in thedyeing of textiles, especially textile breadths consisting of polyacrylnitrile fibers.

A means embodying this method comprises, above the single color dyedcarpet or the carpet to be single color dyed or the raw material withoutsingle color dye and over its entire width measured transversallytowards the direction of movement of the material, channels dispensinguniformly distributed dye liquid jets, preferably controllable, withoutpressure or at a small pressure and at a low speed, at the same timeproviding mechanical means effecting dispersion of the jets intodroplets. As a mechanical means for the dispensing means oscillations ofa suitable direction, amplitude and frequency may be used. Dimensioningof the oscillating motion may be effected by the aid of correspondingmeans. Mechanical motions of the dispensing means in the direction oftheir longitudinal axis, that is to say, in a transverse direction tothe movement of the material, proved to be especially favorable in whichcase using an amplitude between i 2 and 4 mm and a frequency between 4and 10 Hz proved to be preferable.

To prevent dye accumulations upon reversal of the motion direction onthe carpet, this motion may be overlapped with another motion in thesame direction but having a greater amplitude. Instead of such anoverlapped motion it is also possible to oscillate the carpet in adirection transverse to its travel. Further it is also possible tomaintain the dispensing means in an oscillating motion.

It has been found that the liquid dispensing means should be positionedat a vertical distance between the outlet of the dye jets and theirhitting the carpet. According to the desired pattern this verticaldistance should be between 400 and 1,000 mm.

To further prevent any linear pattern it is favorable to interrupt thefalling droplets by means of a grid which may also be maintained in anoscillating motion. The grid consists of thin rods having a diameterbetween 0.5 and 2.5 mm. The material from which the rods are made ispreferred to be a liquid repellent type to preclude adherence of liquiddroplets thereon. For instance, the grid rods may be made frompolytetrafluorethylene tubular rods or highly polished stainless steelwire. According to the viscosity of the dyeing liquid the tubular rodsmay be heated.

The grid is positioned parallel in a plane with respect to the carpet.Arrangement of the rods in the grid is effected substantially in thedirection of travel of the carpet. However, the direction of the rodsmay be subject to a certain angular deflection towards the direction oftravel of the carpet according to the desired pattern. The oscillatingfrequency of the grid is preferred to be between and 7 Hz at anamplitude between 0 and 70 mm dependent upon whether a coarse or finepattern is desired.

The minimum fineness of the pattern is limited by the depth ofpenetration of the dye onto the carpet. If possible, the size of thedroplets should not be less than a diameter of 2 mm so that the dyedroplet, as far as possible, completely penetrates through the pile ontothe rear or backside of the carpet.

The liquid dispensing means may be designed according to a variety ofprinciples. As the simplest means a dyeing liquid trough is recommendedof a length sufficient to cover the width of the carpet and the bottomof which has been provided with nozzles. The distance between thenozzles is always the same. The nozzle bores have a diameter between 1.2and 3 mm according to the desired pattern. To prevent undue turbulenceor spillage of the liquid dye during oscillation of the dye liquidtrough, the trough may be filled with a coarse capillary type material.

The speed at which the carpet is passed may be ad- 5 justed inaccordance with the volume of dye to be discharged through the nozzles.The volume to be dispensed by the nozzles may be somewhat regulated byproper selection of the dyeing liquid level in the liquid trough. Whenusing a dispensing means in the form of this trough the results aresubstantially rounder patterns which, due to the oscillating motion ofthe screen or grid to be described later, are somewhat distorted in thetransverse direction of the carpet.

With another type of the dispensing means the pattern may be distortedpredominantly lengthwise with respect to the carpet. in this case opennozzles are provided with a relatively deep cross section. With thesecond type of dispensing means a roller rotates in a dye liquid troughand carries the adherent dye liquid film upward and onto a contiguouslyspaced blade member. The blade is designed such that the dye film isremoved from the roller along the entire effective length, butaccumulated by shaped members provided on the blade in a regular mannerand subsequently drops therefrom through nozzles or channels which areopen towards one side and form a comparatively deep recess. The blade issubject to a similar oscillating motion as provided for the firstdispensing means.

The individual dispensed jet is dispersed into the direction effected bythe mechanical movement onto the carpet at the same time beingdistributed into droplets and then distorted by the grid located belowthe same into a still greater dispersion width.

in order to provide for a repeatability of the individual patterns it isproposed to effect the adjustment and control of the total machine bymeans of a punch card system or the like. The same type of pattern onceadjusted may be repeated as frequently as desired.

The channels dispensing the dye liquid and being subject to oscillationas well as the material breadth may be located in a steamer duringapplication of the dye droplets.

It may also be possible to provide the dispensing means as well as themeans moving the material breadth in the steamer during application ofthe dye droplets.

To prevent excessively high tensions, especially when treatingthermoplastic materials of synthetics the mechanical stability orstrength of which is reduced at elevated temperatures, the materialbreadth may be supported within the steamer at close distances,especially by rolls.

The effectiveness of the means according to the present invention isimproved if, within the steamer, the dispensing means are followed bymeans for a prolonged treatment, thus application of the dye mayimmediately be followed by a fixation process.

More particularly it may also be possible, that, if required by color orfiber, the steamer in which the dye application means are provided, maybe followed by a second steamer chamber being subject to otheratmospheric conditions, especially to an elevated temperature and anelevated pressure which is entered by the material breadth via a sluice.

Preferably, the drives for the dye application means and for thematerial guide means are provided on the outside of the steamer andconnected to the same via support and drive members entering the steamerthrough packed apertures in the steamer wall.

Finally, it will also be possible to provide the dye application meansand the total material guide means including feed roll and take up rollwithin a closed steamer. Due to the lack of slots for feeding and takingup of the material breadth it will be possible to operate at highersteamer pressures and temperatures.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and longitudinal view of an embodiment of thepresent invention providing for two dispensing means;

FIG. la shows the oscillating drive means of the front dispensing means;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of dispensing means togetherwith a roller;

FIG. 3 shows a tubular grid member containing a heating element therein;

FIG. 4 depicts an alternative grid construction in which the grid rodsare inclined towards the direction of travel of the carpet;

FIG. 5 illustrates the overlapping of two oscillating motions;

FIG. 6 is a schematically sectional view in a transverse directiontowards the passing material together with the steamer;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section showing the support ing means of thematerial breadth as well as a following prolonged contact station or asecond steamer chamber respectively;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment in which allmeans are provided in a closed steamer.

Referring to the drawings, a uniformly dyed carpet being fed into themachine is indicated at 10. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is providedwith two successive dispensing means of different types, one of which isgenerally indicated as and the other as 30. It is to be understood thateither of these may be used singularly, in identical pairs, or incombination with each other as illustrated. Each of the liquiddispensing means 20 and is positioned to extend over the entire width ofthe carpet to be treated. Each is equipped so that channels at equaldistances are provided through which, preferably controllable, dye jetsare dispensed without pressure or at a low pressure and at a low speedwhich jets are dispersed to droplets by mechanical means.

In FIG. 1 the liquid dispensing means 20, illustrated in greater detailin FIG. 2 and first to be passed by the carpet, includes a rotatableroller 21 which immerses into a trough 22 which is filled with a dyeliquid. The direction of rotation of the roller 21 is indicated by thearrow 23. Rotating drive means is provided by the V- belt 24 mounted onpulleys 24' and driven by an electric motor 25 mounted on the machineframe. The driving side bearing of the roller shaft is indicated at 26.The rotational speed of the electric motor 25 is adjustable to permitthe blade 27 to lift the desired quantity of dye film from the rollerthereby causing the desired quantity of dye liquid to be dispensed.Blade 27 being inclined downward into the direction not facing theroller, contacts the roller on the side falling during rotation. Theblade removes the dye film carried along by the roller. In FIG. 2 thedye film is indicated at 28. The dye film is carried downward by theblade. A dispersion of the film into individual jets 29 is caused by thetriangular shaped members 19 which are separated from each other at thelower blade edge by nozzles 31 which are open towards above. The nozzlesmay have a lower circular cross-sectional shape and may be provided witha comparatively deep cross section. A preferred cross-sectional shape isdepicted at 3.1 in the form of a V-shape again having a substantiallydeep length. Blade 27 is mounted at its ends 32 of the supporting rod infriction bearings 33 to permit an oscillating motion as described indetail for the other dispensing means 30. A level control means may beprovided for the trough 22. The speed at which the carpet is passedthrough the machine may be adjustable.

The second dispensing means 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a trough34 extending over the entire width of the carpet and provided to containthe liquid dye and equipped with nozzles 35 located at equal distancesin its bottom. The trough may be filled with a coarse capillary typematerial which has not been shown. The nozzle bores preferably have adiameter between 1.5 and 3 mm dependent upon the type of patterndesired. As previously discussed, the speed of the carpet may beadjustably regulated in accordance with the volume of dye beingdischarged by the nozzles. The volume of dye discharged by the nozzlesmay be regulated to some degree by the height of the dye fluidmaintained in the trough. When using the dispensing means 30 the type ofspots formed by the dye droplets is primarily circular in which case thepattern may be somewhat distorted in a transverse direction of thecarpet due to the oscillating motion of the screen or grid 36 to bedescribed below.

The distance between the dispensing means and the carpet rangesapproximately between 400 and 1,000

A grid 36 which is subject to oscillation, is provided between thedispensing means and the carpet. The grid is mounted on the rods 37which permits an oscillating movement in a direction transverse to thedirection of carpet travel. Oscillation is accomplished by means of thepulley 39 which is driven by an electric motor 38 and which haseccentrically mounted thereto a lever 40. The other end of the lever 40is attached to the grid frame 41. The opposing side of the frame 41 issup ported by means of the rod 42 which is slideably mounted in supportblock 42'. The grid comprises a plurality of thin rods 43 preferablywith a diameter between 0.5 and 2.5 mm and which are mounted into frame41. The material from which the grid or grid rods are made, is liquidrepellant material such as polytetrafluorethylene or highly polishedstainless steel wire. If the grid rods 43 are made frompolytetrafluorethylene tubes, they may be heated by providing anelectric heating element 44 in the tubes. The oscillation of the gridhas a frequency between 0 and 7 Hz with an amplitude of 0 to mm.

The grid rods may be positioned parallel to the direction of carpettravel, as shown in FIG. 1. It may also be possible to position the rodsangularly with respect to the direction of carpet travel in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4. The arrows 45 indicate the direction of carpettravel whereas the arrows 46 indicate the direction of the grid rods.

The oscillation generating means provided for the liquid dispensingmeans which is the same both for the dispensing means and the dispensingmeans 30, but which has been shown for the dispensing means only,comprises a lower stationary member 47 and an upper support 48 which ismovable in a direction transverse to the direction of carpet travel (seeFIG. 1a). Each support provides for a rod 49 and a rod 50 on the lowerand upper supports respectively on which a carriage 51 is slidablymounted. The bearings 52 are con nected to each other via an inner frame53 which is slidably mounted on rod 55 of the lower stationary support47 and on rod 54 of the upper slidable support 48.

The oscillation means are mounted on the projecting portion of thecarriage 51 which means are provided for the upper support comprising adouble armed lever 57 having its turning point at 58. At the lower end59 of the lever 57 there is a shaft 60 attached via a crank 51.

At the other end 62 of the lever 57 one end of the plate 63 has beenlinked. At the other end 64 of the plate 63 there is attached a shaft 65via a crank 66. The shafts 60 and 65 are driven by a motor 67 viapulleys 68, V- belt 69, pulley 70 and pulley 71 of a major diameter andalso provided on shaft 65, V-belt 72 and pulley 73 on shaft 60 atdifferent speeds. The turning point 58 of the lever 57 is connected tothe upper support by means of the plate 74, said support thus beingoscillated, while the oscillations are caused by the oscillationgenerating means and comprise two overlapping oscillations so that theoscillation diagram as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. In FIG. 5 the lettera indicates the oscillations caused by crank 66 and the letter bindicates the oscillations caused by crank 61, while the letter cindicates the resultant oscillation of both oscillations.

In the lower stationary support the inner frame 53 is connected to anhydraulic cylinder 75 which causes an oscillating movement of the innerframe along with the carriage. This oscillating motion is of a largeramplitude than previously described and prevents excessive dyeaccumulation to be caused on the carpet by the reversal of the motion.

With reference to FIG. 1, the support 81 of the trough 34 is alsoengaged by a motor 76 by means of the eccentrieally mounted pin 77 ondisc 78 and the angular member 79, pin 77 engaging the elongated slot 80of said angular member 79, to generate an oscillating motion around thesupporting pins.

The patterned carpet leaving the machine, in FIG. 1, has been identifiedby 10.

In FIG. 6 the wall of the steamer 82 has been identified by 83. Thesteamer 82 encloses an application means completely identified by 84 aswell as the carpet breadth 10 passing below said dye application means.For instance, the dye application means 84 may be a dye trough 34 fromwhich dye jets 85 are discharged which, among others due to the grid 36,are dispersed into individual drops before they hit the carpet 10. Thetrough 34' is oscillated by a drive 86 which, in FIG. 6, has only beenindicated by an empty field, in

a direction transverse to the carpet travel which has been indicated bythe arrow 87, and/or subjected to a tilting motion indicated by thearrow 88 around an axis extending in a direction transverse to thecarpet travel. The grid 36 is also subjected to an oscillating motionwhich has been indicated by the arrow 89.

The movable dye application means 84 and the guide rollers 90 of thecarpet 10 are supported by support and drive members 91, 92. 93 passingthe wall 83. At the points where they are passing the wall, they areprovided with packings 96 which permit a movement of the support anddrive members, but prevent the atmosphere of the steamer 82 fromescaping. In the embodiment shown the bearings 97 of the support anddrive members as well as the drive 86 are provided outside of thesteamer 82.

The separating lines 98 in FIG. 7 indicate that in the steamer 82 aprolonged contact station may follow in which the carpet 10 is, forinstance, guided via loops and by means of which the presence of thecarpet 10 in the atmosphere of the steamer 82 is prolonged resulting,for instance, in a subsequent fixation of the dye.

In FIG. 7 the steamer 82 is further followed by a steamer chamber 99which is entered by the material breadth through the sluice 100 and inwhich there is another atmosphere than that in the steamer 82.

The carpet enters the steamer unit at 101 and leaves the same at 102.

Apart from the dye application means 84 FIGS. 7 and 8 show another dyeapplication means 84 which may be provided in addition to or instead ofthe dye application means 84 and comprises a dye roller 103 from whichdye carried upward from the trough 104 is removed by a blade 105collecting the removed dye stream by means of the baffie plates 106 intoindividual channels and distributing the same again into individualjets. Prior to dye application the carpet 10, as indicated in FIG. 7 at107, may be additionally heated by steam or radiation. Within thesteamer the carpet is supported by closely spaced rolls 108 upon whichit rests as far as possible without any tensional stresses.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 differs from that shown in FIG. 7 in thatthe slots 101 and 102 for feeding and taking up of the carpet have beenomitted whereas the feed roll 109 and the take up roll 110 are alsolocated in a steamer 82' so that all sides of the latter may be closedpermitting operation at correspondingly higher pressures andtemperatures.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dyeing a continuously traveling textile breadth,comprising means for guiding the breadth through a non-vertical path,means spaced above said path for dispensing a row of interspaeedlow-speed dye liquid jets towards this path, said row extendingtransversely with respect to said path, and mechanical means foreffecting dispersions of said jets into individual dye liquid dropletsfalling on said path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for oscillating said jetdispensing means and in which the latter dispenses said jets uniformlydistributed over the entire width of said path and in equal volumes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for oscillating said jetdispensing means transversely with respect to said jets.

a connection with said jet dispensing means, an oscillatory carriage,said member and carriage moving through substantially parallel paths,means on said carriage for oscillating said member and means foroscillating said carriage.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said member oscillating meanscomprises a double-armed lever, a crank connected to move one end ofsaid lever and a crank for moving the other end of said lever, means forconnecting the turning point of said lever to said member, and means forrotating said cranks at different peripheral speeds.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the spacing of said jet dispensingmeans'above said path is approximately between 400 and 1,000 mm.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including a steam chamber enclosing said jetdispensing means, said mechanical jet dispersion means and at least theportion of said path on which said droplets fall.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said guiding means includes aplurality of rolls which are closely spaced to define said path andsupport the breadth being dyed in said path portion within said chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said steam chamber extends beyondsaid jet dispensing means and defines a treating means for the dyedbreadth.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said steam chamber has an exitfor the dyed breadth and includes a second chamber into which thebreadth passes, said second chamber being adapted for operatingconditions independent of conditions in said steamer chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said jet dispensing means and saiddispersion means are oscillatory, and including means extending fromoutside of said chamber into the latter to said oscillatory means foroscillating these oscillatory means in said chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said chamber also encloses saidguide means, and includes a breadth feeding roll and take-up roll meansalso enclosed by said chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said jet dispensing meanscomprises a trough of a length sufiicient to cover the entire width ofsaid path and to receive the dye liquid, said trough having a bottomprovided with nozzles which are spaced apart substantially equaldistances.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 including means for oscillating saidtrough.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said trough is filled with acoarse capillary-type material.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said jet dispe in m ans co rises ady e ji qu'd c ntai in trou e en ng for t e entire widt oi san path, 5rotatable roller positioned so' its lower periphery immerses in dyeliquid in said trough and extending for the length of the latter, ablade having an upper longitudinal edge extending for the entire lengthof said roller for removing dye from the falling side of said roller andbeing inclined towards this roller, the lower portion of said bladehaving means for diverting liquid dye flowing down the blade into saidlow-speed liquid dye jets.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said flow diverting meansincludes at the lower portion of said blades, open-topped trough-likenozzles having rounded tenninating portions.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said mechanical means comprises anoscillatory grid spaced below said jet dispensing means and above saidpath. 21.The apparatus of claim 20 in which said grid includes aplurality of rods extending transversely with respect to this gridsoscillating direction, said rods each having a diameter between 0.5 and2.5 mm.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the surfaces of said rods arerepellent to said dye liquid jets.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 including means for heating said rods.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 including means for oscillating said gridwith a frequency between 0 and 7 Hz. and an amplitude between 0 andmillimeters.

25. The'apparatus of claim 20 in which said grid oscillates transverselywith respect to said path and includes a plurality of laterallyinterspaced rods extending substantially parallel to the direction thebreadth moves through said path.

26. The-apparatus of claim 20 in which said grid includes a plurality oflaterally interspaced rods extending at an incline with respect to thedirection the breadth travels through said path.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 including means for oscillating said gridtransversely with respect to said path.

28. Apparatus for dyeing a continuously traveling textile breadth,comprising means for guiding the breadth through a substantiallyhorizontal path, means above said path for dispensing a row ofinterspaced low-speed jets of continuously flowing dye downwardlytowards this path, said row extending transversely with respect to saidpath, a plurality of laterally interspaced rods which extendtransversely with respect to said row and are spaced below said jetdispensing means and above said path, and means for oscillating saidrods transversely with respect to saidpath and through said jets, thelow speed of said jets and the diameters of said bars and theoscillating frequency and amplitude of said oscillating means,dispersing the jets into liquid dye droplets falling on the breadthtraveling through said path.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 in which said dispensing means dispensessaid jets equally spaced apart and in equal volumes and said rods arespaced apart equal distances and are parallel to each other and to thetravel of the breadth through said path, and including means foroscillating said dispensing means transversely with respect to saidjets.

1. Apparatus for dyeing a continuously traveling textile breadth,comprising means for guiding the breadth through a nonvertical path,means spaced above said path for dispensing a row of interspacedlow-speed dye liquid jets towards this path, said row extendingtransversely with respect to said path, and mechanical means foreffecting dispersions of said jets into individual dye liquid dropletsfalling on said path.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means foroscillating said jet dispensing means and in which the latter dispensessaid jets uniformly distributed over the entire width of said path andin equal volumes.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means foroscillating said jet dispensing means transversely with respect to saidjeTs.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said oscillating meansoscillates said jet dispensing means transversely with respect to saidpath and with an amplitude between 2 and 4 mm and a frequency between 4and 10 Hz.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said oscillating meansoscillates said jet dispensing means with oscillations overlapped byother oscillations having a frequency and/or amplitude which differ fromthose of these overlapped oscillations.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 inwhich said oscillating means comprises an oscillatory support memberhaving a connection with said jet dispensing means, an oscillatorycarriage, said member and carriage moving through substantially parallelpaths, means on said carriage for oscillating said member and means foroscillating said carriage.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which saidmember oscillating means comprises a double-armed lever, a crankconnected to move one end of said lever and a crank for moving the otherend of said lever, means for connecting the turning point of said leverto said member, and means for rotating said cranks at differentperipheral speeds.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the spacing ofsaid jet dispensing means above said path is approximately between 400and 1,000 mm.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 including a steam chamberenclosing said jet dispensing means, said mechanical jet dispersionmeans and at least the portion of said path on which said droplets fall.10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said guiding means includes aplurality of rolls which are closely spaced to define said path andsupport the breadth being dyed in said path portion within said chamber.11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said steam chamber extends beyondsaid jet dispensing means and defines a treating means for the dyedbreadth.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said steam chamber hasan exit for the dyed breadth and includes a second chamber into whichthe breadth passes, said second chamber being adapted for operatingconditions independent of conditions in said steamer chamber.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 9 in which said jet dispensing means and saiddispersion means are oscillatory, and including means extending fromoutside of said chamber into the latter to said oscillatory means foroscillating these oscillatory means in said chamber.
 14. The apparatusof claim 9 in which said chamber also encloses said guide means, andincludes a breadth feeding roll and take-up roll means also enclosed bysaid chamber.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said jet dispensingmeans comprises a trough of a length sufficient to cover the entirewidth of said path and to receive the dye liquid, said trough having abottom provided with nozzles which are spaced apart substantially equaldistances.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 including means for oscillatingsaid trough.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said trough isfilled with a coarse capillary-type material.
 18. The apparatus of claim1 in which said jet dispensing means comprises a dye liquid containingtrough extending for the entire width of said path, a rotatable rollerpositioned so its lower periphery immerses in dye liquid in said troughand extending for the length of the latter, a blade having an upperlongitudinal edge extending for the entire length of said roller forremoving dye from the falling side of said roller and being inclinedtowards this roller, the lower portion of said blade having means fordiverting liquid dye flowing down the blade into said low-speed liquiddye jets.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said flow divertingmeans includes at the lower portion of said blades, open-toppedtrough-like nozzles having rounded terminating portions.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 1 in which said mechanical means comprises anoscillatory grid spaced below said jet dispensing means and above saidpath.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which said grid includes aplurality of rods extending transversely with respect to this grid''soscillating direction, said rods each having a diameter between 0.5 and2.5 mm.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the surfaces of said rodsare repellent to said dye liquid jets.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21including means for heating said rods.
 24. The apparatus of claim 20including means for oscillating said grid with a frequency between 0 and7 Hz. and an amplitude between 0 and 70 millimeters.
 25. The apparatusof claim 20 in which said grid oscillates transversely with respect tosaid path and includes a plurality of laterally interspaced rodsextending substantially parallel to the direction the breadth movesthrough said path.
 26. The apparatus of claim 20 in which said gridincludes a plurality of laterally interspaced rods extending at anincline with respect to the direction the breadth travels through saidpath.
 27. The apparatus of claim 20 including means for oscillating saidgrid transversely with respect to said path.
 28. Apparatus for dyeing acontinuously traveling textile breadth, comprising means for guiding thebreadth through a substantially horizontal path, means above said pathfor dispensing a row of interspaced low-speed jets of continuouslyflowing dye downwardly towards this path, said row extendingtransversely with respect to said path, a plurality of laterallyinterspaced rods which extend transversely with respect to said row andare spaced below said jet dispensing means and above said path, andmeans for oscillating said rods transversely with respect to said pathand through said jets, the low speed of said jets and the diameters ofsaid bars and the oscillating frequency and amplitude of saidoscillating means, dispersing the jets into liquid dye droplets fallingon the breadth traveling through said path.
 29. The apparatus of claim28 in which said dispensing means dispenses said jets equally spacedapart and in equal volumes and said rods are spaced apart equaldistances and are parallel to each other and to the travel of thebreadth through said path, and including means for oscillating saiddispensing means transversely with respect to said jets.